Friday, September 30, 2011

Idea Thief: Painting Fabric on Furniture

Hello There!

When I'm going through Pinterest or the blogs I frequent, every once in a while I will come across a project I must do immediately. (Take my kitchen curtains for an example. Or Lila's children book shelves)

This is definitely one of those projects.

You can actually paint furniture. I know. It's revolutionary. I hate (HATE) sewing slipcovers. I can't do it. I read tutorial after tutorial, but they always come down to 1 thing...sewing a lot of fabric. If you've ever seen me take on a large project and there is any degree of measurement or accuracy involved, I will screw it up. This is one of the reasons I'm still trying to sew a kennel cover for my husband (which by the way was part of his Christmas gift last year). I have a half finished quilt I started for a friend that got married in 2009. I have a t-shirt quilt I started sewing in 2007 that has been taken apart twice and is maybe a third of the way done. Lots of fabric and I don't mix.

However, this paint furniture concept has actually changed my world. If you have been a reader for a long time, you'd know I begged and pleaded for this patterned arm chair. I was so excited to have it. I sit in it all the time. And within two months the stupid thing was falling apart. The arm of it is loose. It's so thread bare now, I can see the cushion. It's only 3 years old! Argh! I've been playing around with the idea of cover it (I have to admit...the pattern I loved so much 3 years ago isn't so great now). However, I can't sew large projects.

I am going to paint this old beat up chair...maybe even this weekend. It's a "project" weekend for me...although I really should do the ever large project of "cleaning" instead. So, we will see.

I am thinking a nice yellow to go with our aqua-ish couch (which has held up considerably better) and our eventual grey walls.

Check out Hyphen Interiors for the revolutionary tutorial! Oh, and don't forget to check out the reader's pink chaise they posted as well. It's amazing.


Picture from Hyphen Interiors




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Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Junkin' This Weekend!

Hi Everyone!

If you've been following the blog, you know about the fantastic junk sales that go on around Boone every once in a while. This weekend is one of those weekends! I have to let you know about Tracy at Once Was. She's right down the street from me, and she has some great stuff. For the first time, she's going to be open from 6:00 pm-9:00 om on Friday night. Evie from Farmhouse Catering will have some great goodies and drinks for shoppers that stop by! Once Was is located on the corner of Mamie and Linn in Boone.

On Saturday, once you've started your day at Once Was, pick up information about the other occasional sales going on in the area. Lots of great deals and good finds!

Enjoy your junkin'!

-Krista


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Sunday, September 18, 2011

Show & Tell: Penny Necklace

I saw an idea like this on Pinterest a few months ago and have been obsessed.



While at a craft fair in Wisconsin over Labor Day, we saw a booth wear people made stamped charms while you waited. I know it's actually pretty easy to make the charms yourself...I ended up paying as much as it would have cost to just get the supplies myself. However, I am inpatient and wanted the charm right away.

So, I had a charm stamped with "Lucky Us," My husband and I got a few rolls of pennies and found pennies from the year I was born, he was born, we got married and the birth of our daughter. Eventually when we have other children we will put their years and probably remove ours.

I drilled the holes in the pennies myself. I did a bit of research and found if I used a bit of olive oil to lubricate the bit, I shouldn't (and didn't) have any issues. I put a piece of wood down and drilled into the scrap wood. I had some small metal hoops laying around to attach the pennies to the necklace.

I think it looks wonderful!


Getting ready to drill some holes.








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DIY Sunday: $4.00 Pop Up Tube

Hello There!

While I was at the store today, I was trying to find a toy for our daughter. She's clearly bored with her current selection. However, I wasn't going to spend a fortune on it since she does get bored with them pretty fast.

I was in the kids section and I saw a few products I liked, but they all started at $40.00. I mulled over it while I went to get some dish soap, and I came across pop up hampers on clearance for $2.00 a piece.

Perfect for making a cheap fun toy!

Children's Pop Up Tube

Supplies:

Two Pop Up Hampers ($2.00 a piece on clearance)
Scissors

Total Cost: $4.00



Directions:

Using scissors, cut out the bottom of the hampers, careful to avoid the fabric holding the metal ring in place.

The two tubes should slip within one another and stay pretty well without sewing them together. This will also allow you to pull them apart and collapse them for easy storage.

Really simple idea, but it's quite effective. It was a hit!










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Thursday, September 15, 2011

Not Everything Turns Out Pretty...

Hello Readers!

What a wonderful day out! I don't know which one I love more. Fall or Spring. When it's cool like this out, it makes me want to wear a cute coat (the rare time I get to wear one before I have to wear the fluffiest warmest one I own), cuddle under blankets and play in the leaves. It's too bad that Spring and Fall don't last longer. I find it hard to be in a bad mood when I breath in this cooler fresh air.

I often get told "Is there anything you can't make?" Yes. There are many things I know I can not do. Quilting is one of them. I'm not careful enough to keep my cuts straight, and it's a disaster when I'm done. I also can not make jewelry (for the most part). And apparently, I can not make stepping stones either.

I got together with a group of girls for a little crafting a few months ago. We decided to make stepping stones. We purchased a kit meant for little kids and got to work. The instructions seemed pretty straight forward. It used descriptive words like "ice cream" and "cake." Mix the powder and water. Put design in. Paint when dry. We should have known that when we had to throw away the first batch of mix, it was only going to go down hill.

I have absolutely no idea how they expect young children to make these stones. Three capable grown woman were miserably defeated by these stepping stones. Since there was three of us and only one Popsicle stick to stir with, we had to use other devices. I was unfortunate enough to get a pencil to mix with. I thought it was going to be just fine to mix with a pencil. I didn't count on the mixture having super human qualities. As you're mixing it, it starts to dry almost immediately. There is no lag time to put in a nice drawing or put those shiny jewels they provided into the cement. You have a 60 second window max before you're creation is literally in cement.

I see my friends' stones and how quickly they dried, and I realize that I need to focus. Nothing can distract me during my 60 second window (including my crying daughter). As I start to stir in the water, I think about all the awesome things I'm going to do with my stone. I'm going to carve some stuff in it. I'm going to put jewels in. I'm going to paint the heck out of it. It's going to be the most beautiful stone ever. I'm going to hang it in my entryway so all visitors can admire my artistic talent. I'll probably immediately get orders to make creations for other people. It will catch on like wildfire. I'll probably be discovered by Better Homes and Gardens and be offered a job. I'll soon there after write a crafty book while touring the country. I'll probably be invited onto Rachel Ray and have my own show on OWN.

Then I see it. Wait. Why is this looking so clumpy? Why isn't it letting me smooth out? Oh no! The pencil won't let me smooth out the top. I struggle to some how manipulate the pencil into a magical spatula. I am powerless to stop the stone from setting. I decide to change strategies. I'll prioritize. First, the jewels need to go in since they need the most stickiness, then I'll use a toothpick to carve something.

At this point I have given up all thoughts of stone grander. I just want to put something into this stone before it's too late. I think to myself, I'll carve in the names of my family and then maybe, I'll create a stone someday when we have more family members. Yes. That is a great idea. A family memory to pass down. I'll carve a path in the beautiful garden I'll someday have on our dream acreage. My great grandchildren will look at my stones with appreciation and respect.

So, I get my husband's name in. Then, I move onto my daughters. Great. Then I go to put my name in. Wait. NO! STOP DRYING!!!!!!!! Ugh. It's completely dry. I now have a clumpy stone with my just husband and daughter's name. Awesome.

At this point you can imagine that we're all feeling quite defeated. I start to brain storm with my friends about what purpose a ugly clumpy stone with just my husband and daughter's name could be used for. Thankfully someone asked if my husband's birthday was coming up. Yes! Yes it is!

So, once we gave the stones a couple of days to dry, I presented my stone to my husband as a early birthday present. From our daughter. I wasn't going to claim I made that ugly thing.

It sits in amongst the weeds in the garden I don't have time to tend. Probably is a popular bathroom spot of various dogs that pass by. And the jewels won't stay in the stupid thing.

Enjoy & Laugh at our stone creations!



Don't be fooled. This one looks nice. The tray they provided at this pattern on one side and you were supposed to use the other to draw, paint and put jewels in.



And here's the other side. The jewels have different thoughts about staying put. I don't blame them. I'd run from our stepping stones too.


This is another friends. Her paint job is quite good. Especially next to mine.



And this is mine! Don't you just love the rocky clumpy surface? How about the the random paint circle? What about the fancy jewels (that have since decided to fall out)?




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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Our Exciting Announcement!

The Dabbling Crafter is excited to announce our newest crafty endeavor:

Craft Parties & Workshops.

Our craft parties and workshops are custom designed parties where we provide the supplies and instructions and you bring your creativity!

Try some freezer paper onesie decorating at your next baby shower. Create a memorable scrapbook for a bridal shower. Get your bridesmaids together and finish some centerpieces. Throw a memorable children’s party by making some fun and silly craft. Have a unique housewarming party and make some home décor. Host a girl’s night out and rehabilitate some junk finds.

How does it work?

Once you have approached us with your event, we will work closely with you to decide on a project. We welcome ideas you’ve seen around, or we can suggest some as well. Even if we haven’t dabbled in your crafty idea, we are experts at figuring out new fun projects, and have some experts in various fields in our crafty arsenal. Once you have decided on your project, you can choose from two packages.

The Crafty Party Package

This package includes all the supplies you will need to make your project as well as detailed instructions. We will answer any troubleshooting questions you have prior to the event.

The Crafty Workshop Package

This package includes all the supplies and instructions from our Crafty Party Package, but also includes an instructor to teach and assist on your project.

Once you have picked your project and your package, we will provide a detailed estimate on the party cost based on time of instruction and project supply costs.

Party extras are also available. Would you like us to decorate for your party? Cater a lunch or dinner? Provide some wine? We tailor every event to you, so the possibilities are endless.

I run a non-profit group, what kind of deal can I get?

We love to help groups such as mom groups or teen groups. If you have a non-profit group, we will waive the instruction cost. That means you get our Crafty Workshop Package for the cost of the Crafty Party Package.

How can I get more information?

You can contact us at kristambenson (at) gmail.com. I look forward to speaking with you and coming up with something extra fun and exciting.




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Sunday, September 11, 2011

DIY Sunday: $5.00 Umbrella Stand (& End Table too!)

Hi Everyone!

I am writing this on Sunday, but probably won't submit it until Monday...just so you don't get a blog over load! It was quite a busy weekend with the craft show, but I did get one craft in. And for all of those people out there that ask me how I do this all with a full time job I have two things to say, 1) I don't sleep or clean as much as a should and 2) My husband is super awesome. I get up at 6:00 am, leave for work at 7:00, get there at 8:00, work until 4:30, get home at 5:30, play with my daughter until bed time at 7:00 or 8:00, craft or do a project while my husband studies until 9 or 10, then go to bed. I am a tired girl! Thankfully my husband does things like watch my daughter while I finish something up, paint a display at 10 pm at night or lets me take a nap on the weekends.

This week's project was a necessity for the craft show, but I'll be using it at home too. This was my first outdoor show. I didn't want to get a tent quite yet since I don't know how many outdoor shows I'll be doing, but I still wanted some shade. So, Tami from Cozy Trends had an umbrella I could use, but I didn't have an umbrella stand. So, why not make one? (or two?)


Umbrella Stand

Materials:
Quikrete Quick Set Concrete (The kind in the red bag!) $5.00 per 50lb bag which is good for two stands.
Bucket/Old Planter (I had these sitting around the house. Very easy to find secondhand) Free
PVC Pipe (I had some sitting around. You only need a very small piece) Free/$1.00
Duct Tape (Had sitting around)
Rubber Gloves (Concrete and hands don't mix well)

Optional: Wood Circle, Rocks, Various Pretty things

Total Cost: Less than $5.00


My new favorite product!


Planter we had sitting around...


Bucket and PVC pipe from old photo backdrop display I made a few years ago.

Directions

1. Cut PVC Pipe

Stick your PVC pipe in the middle of the planter. You will want it to be level with or slightly below the rim of your bucket and planter. You can use any kind of saw you want to cut it (I've used hand saws in the past) If you measure before you leave the house or are buying a planter new, the employees at most home improvement stores will cut the pipe for you too. (And if you buy the pipe by the yard/feet or whatever, this is a great idea.)

2. Tape & Center

Use duct tape to tape the bottom of your pipe close. Get a piece of tape as wide as the planter/bucket and tape the pipe into the center of the planter/bucket.


How backwards is this? Black PVC pipe and white duct tape.


Pipe taped into position.

3. Pour & Water

This is why I LOVE Quikrete. You don't have to mix. Put your gloves on. Pour the powder into the bucket around your PVC pipe. Add the recommended amount of water. (About a 1/2 gallon for 1/2 the bag) Let it set. Seriously. That's it! It will harden within 20 minutes and be strong within 4 hours. I only used a half bag of concrete so the concrete only fills half the bucket. If you fill the bucket to right below the PVC pipe, you don't have to do anything else. As it drys, make sure it's smooth on top and you'll have a (heavy) end table/umbrella stand.

This is where you can get creative. If you want to decorate your concrete, let it get drier and put things in the concrete...jewels, carve words, tile...whatever! You could also fill the bucket with a pretty rock or even cut holes on the side to drain and make the whole thing a planter!


Bucket ready for water.

My father-in-law cut me a circle out of wood that is just a bit bigger than my planter with a hole in the middle to match my PVC pipe. (out of scrap wood he had sitting around) I'll just have to set that on top of the planter and instant outdoor end table!

If you use a bucket and you don't need an end table, you can do what I did for the craft show. I just put a piece of fun fabric over the bucket and tied a piece of ribbon around the outside. It's a portable stand too because I can lift it with the bucket handle.


Ignore the ugly duct tape I used to keep it in place and the sloppy job with fabric. I was in a hurry that morning. It's much more pretty!


Umbrella stand finished.




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Deck Collapse Be Darned, Pufferbilly Days Goes On!

Hi there!

It's been so fun seeing people out and about during Pufferbilly Days in downtown Boone! We have had some really great feedback and conversations with customers in our booth.

However, our new display didn't come without some of it's own headaches!



On Thursday, I picked up these three bifold doors from the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store in Des Moines. I also got three hinges. Total cost: $35.00

On Friday night, after my husband got home from a long day of school and work and we put the baby to bed, we decided to actually finish the display since I had to put it up at 7:30 am Saturday.

So, we get all the hinges put on the doors and it's really driving my husband crazy the doors come in three different colors. (different shades of white) He really wants to paint them. I try to reason that since it's 10:30 at night, painting wouldn't be an ideal idea. But he said he would help. So we grabbed a random can of paint we found in our basement (the label indicates that it was mixed in 2005), the only painting tools we could find (a brush and a corner paint pad) and started to paint the doors. I dragged a tall lamp out from our living room to give us a bit of extra light.

Then the deck collapsed from under us. Seriously. The corner just fell in while we're standing on it painting. Apparently, the corner wasn't braced. Then, as if another thing couldn't go wrong, my husband went to move the lamp (which was on a stable part of the deck) a foot so we could get off said collapsed deck and the base of the lamp just crumbled and broke. I couldn't stop laughing. I turned to him and said "I'm pretty sure we're supposed to take the hint that painting these doors were a mistake!"



I did get one beat up coat on the doors, and they worked fantastic. My booth is pretty much there. I like how it's a mix of old and new. That's kinda how I like to decorate. A touch of primitive with new modern twists.

Thank you to everyone that purchased something! I can still take orders online and I will be at the Red Barn Craft Show in Jefferson, Iowa this coming Saturday as well!


The bi-fold doors worked great! The paint wasn't too bad either.


Hair flowers & artwork


Wipes, bibs and signs!


Baby leggings!


Lots of interest and comments but no bites yet on these two windows!


Booth...screen, table and bi-fold doors.


Pretty proud of my new display!



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